From the Eureka Police Department:

On 03-16-13 at approximately 1640 hours, Officers from the Eureka Police Department were dispatched to a report of a theft suspect who had stolen merchandise from a business in the 3400 block of Broadway and was now at the Bayshore Mall stealing from a department store. Before Officers could arrive the suspect walked to a second business in the mall and again began concealing items on his person with the intentions of stealing them.

Officers confronted the suspect inside the department store and he immediately refused to stop and began running from the contact Officer. The suspect ran through the store aisles and around shoppers. As a second Officer approached the suspect he shoved the Officer to the ground violently causing the Officer to strike the back of their head on the hard floor. The suspect lost his balance as a result of the collision and was subdued and taken into custody. Items from all three thefts were located and recovered from his clothing.

As Officers were attempting to walk the suspect to a patrol vehicle he attempted to pull away from their grasp and escape. The suspect again had to be taken to the ground. The suspect was eventually secured in a patrol vehicle. Once the suspect was secured the Officer who had struck their head became dizzy and nauseous and was transported to St. Joseph Hospital for treatment by Ambulance. A second Officer who was also injured during this arrest was also treated at St. Joseph Hospital. Both Officers were later released.

The suspect was identified as Joseph Robert Valenti, (33 years old from Eureka). Valenti was transported to St. Joseph Hospital for medical clearance for injuries he sustained during his arrest. Once cleared for booking, Valenti was transported to the Humboldt County Correctional Facility were he was booked on two counts of battery against a Peace Officer causing injury, felony resisting arrest, three (3) counts of burglary and probation violation. Valenti is being held on $300,000 bail.